As opener approaches, ASU D-line takes form
With Arizona State working in a new offense, the success of the Sun Devils early on might depend on how the experienced defense holds up.
Jack Jones and Chase Lucas are veterans at the corner spots with ASU boasting experience at the safety spots too in Aashari Crosswell and Evan Fields.
Darien Butler and Merlin Robertson will be starting their third seasons at linebacker and Kyle Soelle appears primed to take a lead role for the first time.
So the only question mark on that side of the ball is the defensive line. It is the spot that has drawn the most attention as the Sun Devils continue preparation for their Nov. 7 season opener against South Division favorite USC at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The lack of a consistent pass rush was an issue last season with the Sun Devils managing 26 sacks which ranked ninth in the Pac-12. They are transitioning from the 3-3-5 they played under former defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales
to the more traditional four-man front which should help address that problem. But it is still a work in progress.
“As a whole, our guys have been working very, very hard. We’re pleased with the progress that they’ve made,” co-defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis said. “It’s been such an interesting time, but since we’ve had the opportunity to play football in pads, it’s continued to work hard at techniques and the things we’re
asking them to do. And the proof will be when you get to go play against an opponent.”
The person tasked with preparing the unit is Robert Rodriguez, the school’s fifth defensive line coach in as many years. Rodriguez is among the myriad of ASU coaches with ties to the NFL, having spent five years coaching the same posi
tion for the Minnesota Vikings.
Players have praised their new mentor for his attention to detail and focus on technique they all see paying off already.
They are also using talk about that being the team’s question mark as motivation.
“Our pass rush should be significantly better than last year, especially with the change of scheme and plus because the help of coach (ASU defensive line coach Robert) Rodriquez, the stuff that he teaches,” said junior Jermayne Lole, who had moved from defensive end to 3technique tackle.
“Over the past month or two months we got significantly better. Our pass rush is probably something that everybody talks about as our Achilles’ Heel or whatever, but I feel like our pass rush should be good this year. Way better than it was last year.”
Senior Shannon Forman, previously a nose tackle, has been working at one end with junior Tyler Johnson at the other. Johnson has battled through injuries the last two years but is healthy now and embraced a move from linebacker.
Joining Lole at tackle is Mesa Desert Ridge product D.J. Davidson.
Asked about how the unit has been looking in practice, Lole praised the showing of Davidson as well as junior T.J. Pesefea, Davidson’s backup who is making a major push for playing time. Freshman Anthonie Cooper, out of Goodyear Millenium, has also drawn favorable reviews.
Edwards says the biggest thing now is for the unit to get some experience working together.
“We’re a little bit more of a four-man front now than we were last year. We still have some things we can do out of the three-man front as well,” he said “It’s just a matter of them playing together as a front and then us playing together as a defense.”
There has also been obstacles when it comes to implementing the new system. Both True fresman Omar Norman-Lott and redshirt freshman Amiri Johnson have been slowed by injuries and have only been taking part in practice on a limited basis.
Johnson played in four games last year, the most a player could participate in and still redshirt, and was in line for a significant role this season so his absence has been setback but all are convinced they’ll be ready come game time.
“We’re not just more comfortable but we’re more confident now,” Lole said. “The coaches have done a great job preparing us for the USC game. Not just for the USC game but for the season period and just learning the defense. This defense is a couple of months new plus what happened with the whole COVID
thing, it delayed our preparation. Since we got back we’ve done a great job on defense just getting the scheme down pat.”
Hawkins to have homecoming
The Sun Devils season opener against USC at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will mark a homecoming for a lot of ASU players who hail from Southern California. But it will also be a homecoming for secondary coach Hawkins, in his first year on coach Herm Edwards staff.
Hawkins played at USC from 2014 to 2017, tallying 234 tackles, four interceptions and six deflections in his career while starting 36 games. He also was a graduate assistant there in 2019.
But he is thinking more about it being his first game as a position coach at ASU.
“It’s my first game as a full-time position coach,” he said. “I’m not looking too much into it. I feel if I’m too emotional my players will be emotional. So I have to be even keel so that they’re even keel. We’re just going to go in there and do our jobs.”
Local looking to make an impact
Local product Andre Johnson redshirted last year, but the Tolleson Union grad is hoping to have a role in ASU’s new offense which will be utilizing a lot of wide receivers.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder admits coming into this season with a renewed focus, which is good given the depth the Sun Devils have at his position.
“I have been a lot more focused. Last year wasn’t bought completely into the program. I wasn’t focused on what I needed to do to get better. This year I tried to make sure I did what I could in order to get on the field and execute plays.”